Fred Gallagher and Megatokyo Vol. 5

This story originally appeared in PW Comics Week on May 15, 2007 Sign up now!

by Bill Aguiar, PW Comics Week -- Publishers Weekly, 5/15/2007

Megatokyo, the popular original manga and Web comic created by Fred Gallagher, is about to publish its fifth volume, the second to be published by DC Comics' CMX manga line. Gallagher is one of the earliest Web comic creators to make the jump from web publication to print, and MegaTokyo has been very successful both online and off. It's the story of two American gaming fans—hardcore gamer and beer lover Largo and his sensitive and shy pal, Piro—stranded in Tokyo amid the otaku. Over the years, the strip has followed Largo and Piro's attempts to adapt to Japan, maintain their gaming skills and, of course, meet the local girls. In the latest volume, both of them learn to deal with romance and its demands. In an interview with PWCW, Gallagher discussed the newest volume and life after Megatokyo.

PW Comics Week: This is the second volume of Megatokyo to be released by CMX/DC Comics. How are things different publishing with DC compared to your previous publishers?

Fred Gallagher: Dark Horse did a great job of supporting Megatokyo, and the first three volumes are still available from them. The main reason we moved to DC was that [editorially] Dark Horse was going in the direction of hard core action and horror. With DC Comics, the direction they wanted to go fit us. It was good working with Dark Horse and just as good working with DC Comics. Megatokyo volume 4 was the fourth bestselling book for DC Comics last year.

PWCW: Is there anything in the new fifth volume of Megatokyo that is not on the Web comic?

FG: Yes, in the back there is a character guide and story synopses; there's a timeline for Megatokyo and other information that is not currently on the Web site. It's intended for people new to the series.

PWCW: What can you tell us of the direction of the story line?

FG: I tend to be pretty mum on upcoming events because the best way to tell a story is for the events to come out [in the story]. One thing I can say is that in the current online chapter, there are a lot of events coming to a head, including a zombie invasion and [high school girl] Yuki dealing with her magical girl abilities. There is going to be a lot of running around.

PWCW: You once said there is an eventual end to Megatokyo. Is that still true and how many years are left?

FG: It is pretty hard to say how many years, but there are definitely a couple left.

PWCW: There seems to be a continuing argument among fans about the authenticity of original manga created by non-Japanese artists, and licensed translations of "real" Japanese manga. You seem to have transcended the debate. At most conventions, your booth has the longest lines of manga fans. Any thoughts about that continuing divide?

FG: I wanted to create work that appealed to me in the same way that the manga I liked to read did. I have never set out to mimic any particular manga. As an American creator, I don't pretend to be Japanese and use their art styles. I look at the world differently from a Japanese creator, and I think that is where OEL [original English language] creators worldwide have the ability to add to manga. I think that offering something different is one of the reasons that Megatokyo has been successful.

PWCW: I believe you were one of the first Web comics artists to support yourself financially. Was it because of merchandise sales?

FG: Back when Megatokyo started online, it was supported by advertising. By the time Megatokyo began getting around a million hits a month, the Internet bubble burst and advertising evaporated. So merchandising was something to bring in revenue, and it brought us closer to the fans. In addition we now have the book revenues, and of course we still sell advertising. The trick of surviving as a Web site is to be pretty diverse in supporting yourself.

PWCW: In the past, you have discussed working on other stories outside the Megatokyo story line, such as Warmth.

FG: Most of my efforts have been focused on Megatokyo, but I am planning this year to get another project moving. I definitely want something up before Megatokyo comes to an end. I don't want to do my next project as a Web comic. I would like to get away from the one-page-at-a-time approach and work in larger chunks. Web comics have to keep the story going and keep people entertained every single page. I mean to produce a project this year even if it is not released during it.

PWCW: This may be a print project rather than a Web project?

FG: Probably. I would like the project to support itself as compared to a free Web comic depending on other [revenue] sources.

PWCW: You mentioned that an earlier story about Megatokyo in a PWCW article last year gave the false impression that DC Comics was taking over your online store.

FG: Somehow wires got crossed and some people thought DC Comics was taking over the Megatokyo store. These mistakes happen. DC and I are still talking about merchandising, but not involving the Megatokyo store.

PWCW: You also mentioned that you are moving your warehouse. I take it that sales continue to grow?

FG: Definitely. We started the store three years ago and we've done very well with it. I think that one of the most gratifying things about being independent is taking care of our fans directly. Originally, it was intended to be warehouse and studio space, but we moved the studio into our home. We are moving the warehouse into a smaller space, but also reorganizing it. We have learned what works and what doesn't, so we are going to make it run better.

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